Explosive-engine.



PATENTED AUG. 27, 1907.

1. PALMER. EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28, 19 07.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Jefferson Palm 22? witnesses APPLICATION FILED F2128, 1907.

J. PAL ER. EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

I III/- \I E sy-4 PATENTED AUG. 27, 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 864,253. PATENTED AUG. 27, 1907. J.- PALMER.

EX-PLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION TILED FEB. 28, 1907- 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

72 v l J9 J3 47 J1 I Smamtoz W I i I zfjfersqn Palmer! (I i l UNITED STATES arrens? OFFICE.

JEFFERSON PALMER, OF CLARK, SOUTH DAKOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK G.

BOHRI,'OF CLARK, SOUTH DAKOTA.

EXPLOSIVE-ENGINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 27, 1907.

I To all whom it may concernf Be it knowri that I, JEFFERSON PALMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clark, in the county of Clark and State oi South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Explosive-Engines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description oithe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make.

and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in explosive engines.

The object of the invention isto provide a one-cycle,

single cylinder engine having means for mixingand forcing air andgas into the combustion cylinder of the engine.

A further object is toprovide a motor of this kind which will be simple, strong and'durable in construction, effective and reliable in operation and adapted for the use of gas, gasolene or alcohol.

With these and other objects in view, the invention gnsists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described and particularly, pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of one side of the engine; Fig. 2 is a similar view of the opposite side; Fig. 3 isa top plan view; Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the combustion cylinder of the. engine; Fig. 5 is a similar view through the air and gasmixing chamber; Fig; 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the center of the combustion cylinder-and mixing chamber; Fig. 7

is a vertical cross sectional view through the combustion cylinder and mixing chamber on aline with the inlet and exhaust valves at the forward endof the same;

, Fig. 8 is a similar view taken on a line with the inlet and exhaust valves at. the rear end of the engine; and

Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of the air and gas controlling valves. i

Referring more paiticularly to the drawing, 1 denotes the engine, which is provided with a combustion cylinder, '2, and an air and gas mixing chamber, 3, said combustion cylinder and mixing chamber being arranged parallel with each other, and surrounded bya water jacket, 4, to which is connected water inlet and outlet pipes, 5 and 6, which connect with a water supply tank (not shown).;

Slidablymountcd in he. combustioncylin'der, 2, is a piston,- *7', having a piston rod, 8, which projects through and is 'slidably mounted in a stufling box, 9, arranged .on the forward head of the-cylinder", as shown.

The outer end of the piston rod, 8, is connected to a cross head, 10, which is slidably mounted in a suitable guideframe, 12, arrangedon the base of the engine.

Secured to the piston rod, 8, between the cross head, 10, and the forward end of theengine, is a cross head, 13 which is connected by a pairof pitman rods, '14, to the crankshaft, 15, journaled in suitable hearings on the forward end of the base of the engine, as shown.

Slidably mounted in the mixing chamber, 3, is a piston, 16, having a piston rod, 17 which works through the forward head of the cylinder, the outer end of said piston rod being slidably mounted in a suitable bearing, 18, arranged on the base of the engine. Securedto the piston rod, 17, between the bearing, 18, and the end of the engine cylinder, is a cross head, 19, to which is pivotally connected the inner end of a pitman rod, 20, the outer end of which is loosely connected with the crank shaft, 15, by means of which the pistonrod, l7, and. piston, 16, are reciprocated simultaneouslywith the movement of the piston 7, in the combustion cylinder.

Arranged near the forward end of the mixing chamher is an air .inlet valve, 21, which is normally held in aclosed position by means of a coiled spring, 22. In the rear of the mixing chamber is arranged an air inlet valve, 23, which is normally held in closed position by a coiled spring, 24.

Connected with the mixing chamber, 3, substantially midway between its end, is a gas supply pipe, 25, which is connected to a gas tank, orother gas supply (not shown). The gas supply pipe, 25, is provided with a cut-off valve, 26,-which is connected to a suitable controlling. mechanism or governor (not shown), but by means of which the flow of gas to the mixing chamber is automatically controlled, thereby enabling the engine to maintain a fixed speed under varying load conditions.

At the forward end of the combustion chamber is' an air and gas inlet port, 27, while at the rear end of theeombustioncylinder is an air and gas inlet port, 28, said ports, '27 and 28,- communicating with the front and rear ends of the mixing chamber. In the end of the port, 27, adjacent to the combustion.cylinder is arranged a check valve, 29, which is normally. held in a closed position by a spring, 30. In the end of the. rear port, 28, adjacent to the combustion cylinder, is a check valve, 31, which is normally held in a closed position by a coiled spring, 32. The check valves, 29 and 31 are adapted to be opened by the pressure, of the mixcdgas and air from the chamber to admit said gas and air into the opposite ends of the combustion cylinder. The end of the port, 27, adjacent to the mixing chamber is adapted to be opened and closed by means of a controlling valve, 33, which is ,slidably'mounted in a suitable seat, 34, formed in the side wall of the mixing chamber. The'valve, 33, is provided with a-forwardly projecting stem, 35, having arranged th l Qfla coiledspring,

25 valve, 39, is-provided with an offset rearwardly pro- The stem, 35, is adapted-to work :in ahollow lug, 37, mounted in the front head'of the cylinder, said valve being normally held in position to close the port, 27, by means of the coiled spring, 36. Onthe inner end -of the valve, 33, is arrangedan inwardly projecting v offset stem, 38, which is adapted to be engaged by end of the combustion cylinder, where it is ignited. by a suitable sparking mechanism hereinafter de scribed.

\ In the rear end of the mixing chamber is arranged a controlling valve, 39, said valve being slidably mounted in a seat, 40, formed'in the. side wall of the mixing chamber around the end of theport, 28. The

valve, 39, is provided with a rearwardly projecting stem, 41, which isadapted to work-in atubularplug,

42, arranged-in the rear head ofthe engine cylinder. On the stem, 41, isarranged a coiled spring, 43, by

V means of which the valve, 39, is normally held in position to close the port, 28. The forward end of the jectingstem, 44, which is adapted to be engaged by the piston, 16, in the mixing chamber when said piston moves upwardly on the inner or rear stroke of the engine, thereby operating the controlling valve,

39, to open the port, 28, and permit the mixed air, and

r the mixed air and gas is ignited by a suitable sparking gas which has been .compressed in this end of the chamber by the rearward movement of the piston, 16, to pass through said port and pass the check valve 31, into the rear end of the combustion chamber where mechanism, hereinafter described.

- In the outer .wall of the combustion cylinder, adjacent to the forward end thereof, is arrangedan exhaust valve, 45, which is provided with an outwardly projecting stem, 46, and is firmly held in a closed position by a coiled spring, 47. The valve, 45, is adapted to be opened at the proper time to discharge the products of explosion from the forward end of'the combustion cylinder, by means of an operating lever, 48, which is pivotally mounted at its rear end in a bracket, 50, secured to the rear end oifthe engine cylinder, and is held in position midway between its 'ends by aguide pin, 51, projecting from the side of the engine cylinder. On the pin, 51, is arranged a coiled spring, 52, by means of which the lever, .48, is normally held in inoperative position. The lever, 48, is operatively connected to the stem, 46, of the valve, 45, by means of a bracket, 53. The forward end of the lever, 48, is adapted to operate at the proper time to open the exhaust valve, 45, by means of an operat-- ing wheel, or disk, 54, which is fixedly mounted on the end of the crank shaft, 15, and is providedon its side with a cam projection, 55, which, as said disk or wheel is'turned by the crank shaft, is adapted to be brought into engagement with the forward end of the lever, 48, thereby forcing the same inwardly against the tension of the spring, 52, and causing said lever to open the exhaust valve at the forward end of the combustion chamber.

Inthe outer wall of the combustion cylinder, adjacent to'the rear end thereof, is arranged a rear exhaust valve, 56, having an outwardly projecting stem, 57 on which is arranged at coiled spring, 58, adapted to normally hold the valve, 56, in a closed position. Connected to the outer end of the stem, 57, is a valve operating lever, 59, which is pivotally mounted in a bracket, 60, secured to the baseof the engine. The forward end of thelever, 59, extends to a position adjacent to the outer side of the operating disk, 54, on the crank shaft, 15, and is adapted to be engaged by a cam projection, 61, on said outer side of the disk in position to be engaged with the forward end of the lever, 59, to operate the same and thereby open the exhaust valve, 56, at the proper time to discharge the products of explosion from the rear end of the combustion cylinder.

Arranged in the forward head of the engine cylinder is a sparking plug, 62, which is connected by a conducting wire, 63, to a binding post, 64, on the engine cylinder, said binding post being in electrical communication with a contact plate, 65. The inner end of the sparking plug, 62, is adapted to co-act with the opposing pole, 66, of the electric circuit so that when a current of electricity is passed through said circuit, a spark will be produced to ignite the mixed air and gas in the forward end of the combustion cylinder.

Arranged on the rear. head of the engine cylinder is a rear sparking plug, 67, which is connected by an electric conducting wire, 68, to a binding post, 69, arranged on the engine cylinder, said post 69, being in electrical connection with a contact plate, 70. The inner end of the sparking plug,

67, projects intothe rear end of the combustion chamber, and is adapted to ce-act with the opposing pole, 71, of the electric circuit at thisend of the cylinder, whereby when a current of electricity is passed through said circuits. spark will be produced to ignite the explosive mixture in this end of thecombustion cylinder. I l

The poles, 66, and 71, are in electrical connection with the body of the engine to which is'connected one of the main conducting wires, 72, of the electric circuit.

The opposite main conducting wire, 73, of the circuit being connected to a cut-out switch, 74, which is here shown in the form of a spring metal plate secured to one side of the engine cylinder. The free end of the switch plate, 74, is offset and is adapted to normally engage a switch, 75, which is here shown in the form of a metallic disk pivotally mounted on the side ofthe engine cylinder. The switch,,75, is provided on itsedge with a radially projecting contact lug, 76, which, when the switch, 75, is oscillated, is adapted to be brought into I engagement with one or the other of the contact plates, 65 or 70, thereby completing the electriccircuit, and

causing a spark tobeprodhcd in one end or theother of the combustion cylinder. Connected with the switch disk, 75, is an operating rod, 77, which is slidably mounted in suitable guides arranged. on the side of the engine cylinder. The outer end of the: @07177' is provided with 'an elongated loop or slot, '78, by mean's of which said outer end of the rod is loosely c'onn'ected to a wrist pin, 79, on the cross head, 19, on the piston rod, 17, whereby when said piston rod and cross head are reciprocated, the switch disk, 75, will be oscillated to alternately bring the lug,' 76, into communication with Y I inder and is adapted to work at its upperend between,

the cut-out switch plate, 74, and the adjacent side of the engine cylinder, whereby when said lever is pushed rearwardly, the wedging action of the same will force the cut-out switch plate, 74, outward, thereby disengaging the off-set forward end thereoi from the switch disk so that the circuit through the main contact wire, 73, will be broken, thereby stopping the engine. The cut-out lever, 80, has preferably connected to its upper end an operating rod, 81, which is slidably mounted in guides on the engine cylinder, whereby said lever may be conveniently operated by the engineer. It will be understood that when the operating lever, 80, is swung inward that the cut-out switch plate, 74, will by reason of its spring metal construction engage the switch disk, 75, thus connecting the main electrical supply wire, 73, to said disk.

From the foregoing description, taken'in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the construction and operation of the invention may be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this, invention as defined in the ap-' pended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

- 1. An explosive engine having a combustion cylinder .and a mixing chamber, a piston in said combustion cylinder adapted to be reclprocated by the force otthe explosions therein, a piston in said mixing chamber adapted to be operated by the piston in said combustion cylinder to draw air and gas into said mixing chamber and to force the same into said combustion cylinder, inlet and exhaust valves arranged in aid combustion cylinder, controlling valves in said mixing chamber, whereby the air and gas mixture therein is admitted to said inlet valves, and a sparking mechanism to ignite the gas mixture in said combustion cylinder, substantially as described.

2. An explosive engine having'a combustion cylinder and a mixing chamber arranged in parallel relation, a pisnately ignitedin the opposite ends or said combustion cylinder, an exhaust valve in each end of said cylinder, operating levers connected with said exhaust valves, and means whereby said levers are actuated at the proper time to open said valves, substantially as describe 3. An explosive engine havinga. combustion cylinder and a mixing chamber arranged in parallel relation thereto, a piston in said cylinder .and chamber, piston rods connected to said pistons, a crank shaft connected with said piston rods and operated by the piston in said combustion cylinder, air inlet valves, a gas supply pipe connected with said mixing chamber, inlet and exhaust valves in said combastion chamber, controlling valves in said mixing chamber adapted to be operated by the piston therein to admit thegas mixture to first one and then the other of said inlet valves, pivotally mounted operating levers connected to said exhaust valves, and an operating disk on said crank shaft whereby first one and then the other of said levers are actuated to alternately open said exhaust valves, substantially as specified;

4. An explosive engine having a combustion cylinder and a mixing chamber arranged in parallel relation, a water jacket surrounding'said cylinder and chamber, pistons in said cylinder and chamber, piston rods connected to said pistons, a crank shaft connected with said rods and operated by the piston in said combustion cylinder whereby motion is imparted to the piston'in said mixing chamber, air inlet valves and a gas supply pipe connected with said mixing chamber, inlet and exhaust. valves in said combustion chamber, controlling valves in said mixing chamber adapted to be operated by the piston therein to admit the gas mixture to first one and then the other of said inlet valves, exhaust valves arranged in said combustion cylinder, pivotally mounted operating levers connected to said exhaust valves, an operating disk on said crank shaft, and,

cam projections on the opposite sides of said disk to engage said levers and thereby open first one and then the other of said valves at each revolution of the cran'k shaft, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' JEFFERSON PALMER. Witnesses: i

FRANK S. BonKovnN, Anvm D. WARNER. 

